Tekken first came on the fighting game scene in 1994 and was an instant hit. Different to Street Fighter and worlds apart from Mortal Kombat, this was a 3D Fighter that was worth a second (or third) glance. With a very different and easy to use button and combo system, Tekken quickly established itself as a big player in the genre. Five games later, recently formed Namco Bandai have produced Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, an arcade conversion that's currently available for purchase in the online PlayStation Store. Rather than being just a straight port, this enhancement takes things a step on from Tekken 5, adding a bounty of new features that makes this essential gaming for every Tekken and beat 'em up fan.

Dark Resurrection is actually the bigger brother of the hugely successful Tekken 5. Loved throughout the world for having a very different and effective fighting system, Tekken gives you control of all your fighter's limbs. Square and triangle (1 and 2 in arcade terms) control the left and right punches resepctivel, while X and circle (3 and 4 at the arcade) deal with the left and right kicks. Combinations of the four result in different moves - for example, running forward then pressing X and circle result in a drop kick (using both legs).

Dark Resurrection has a massive 32 characters to choose from, covering a range of fighting styles that will suit anyone who picks up the game. Martial arts fans will see that a lot of detail has gone into the various styles, which include Muay Thai, boxing, Tae Kwon Doe, Ninjitsu, Vale Tudo and even a kangaroo having a bash at it with boxing gloves! The gameplay is simple yet extremely satisfying and when using certain styles, the ability to perform devastating combos - on the ground or in the air - becomes more and more achievable. The clash of two different styles determines the pace of the fight; two hard hitters will be fast-paced, intense and frantic, where as Capoeira vs the Five Form Chinese Martial Art Style is a game of patience, strategy and tactics. This gives the game individuality and almost endless variety - it's not just a regular beat 'em up, but one that requires the use of your loaf. Tekken 5 also introduced a new ranking system and customisation options for the characters, but more on those later.

This excellent fighting takes place against the backdrop of an entertaining storyline. In the original Tekken, Kazuya Mishima planned to kill his father, Heihachi Mishima (the organiser of the Tekken Tournaments), resulting in a long running feud that has been going on ever since. However, Kazuya's son, Jin Kazama, has recently acquired the family trait of the 'Devil Gene' and this event sparks off the return of another family member, causing yet more rifts in the already dysfunctional Mishima clan. Heihachi's father, Jinpachi (that'd be Jin's great-grandfather!), was chained and buried years before the tournament began, but now he has inherited the Devil Gene too, rising from his underground prison and intent on destroying the world after being vanquished for so many years.

Dark Resurrection improves upon the original Tekken 5 in many ways; it boasts a revised combo system, new levels to crush opponents on and against, and two new characters, Lili and Dragunuv. Lili hails from Monaco and uses a street fighting style. She joined the tournament to put an end to the company that is giving her father's company grief - the Mishima Financial Group, of course! Sergei Dragunov is a sambo wrestler from Russia and his purpose is clear; a member of the Special Forces, his mission is to go to Japan and capture Devil Jin. An old favourite from the previous tournaments, Amour King, is back in the game and totally jazzed up with new moves, lots of juggle starters and new unblockables. His motives for joining are unknown. Finally there's Jinpachi, who was a final level boss in Tekken 5 but wasn't a playable character - now he is! With three different animated forms to choose from, a large move list and a number of throw techniques that would rival a wrestler, he's a great character to fight as, and his motives couldn't be simpler - to DESTROY!

All this is very well complimented by excellent backdrops and even better sound effects and music. New levels have been created for Tekken 5, including a forest surrounded by wolves and a burning inferno, each setting with its own uniqueness in detail and interactivity. The sounds effects really make you feel in the "zone", from the Bruce lee style "WAHHHHHH!!" from Marshall Law to the "DOOOORRRYAAAAA!!" as Kazuya delivers his trademark jumping-uppercut! The soundtrack is great, really capturing the atmosphere of each level theme and enhancing the intense fighting action no end. The soundtrack (CD item number VICL-60248) can be found from numerous oversees online stores.

The biggest change, and one that might shake up established Tekken 5 fans, is the revised combo system. Some characters have been toned down due to their complete and utter dominance in Tekken 5. Some of the top-tier characters (Steve Fox, Nina and Bryan Fury for example) now have revised move and combo reactions. For example, Bryan Fury's new back and square move is a chopping elbow motion, whereas in the original Tekken 5 it was a juggle starter, knocking you into the air, and it could potentially wipe out a quarter of his opponent's health bar. Feedback from fans and players must have been heeded, as now the motion is the same, but to activate the juggle, the hit must be registered as a counter hit, making it that little bit harder. Infinites no longer occur either; Steve Fox used to have a number of infinite combos, trapping the opposing player in a certain position. Steve would then perform an infinite combination of moves that would end when the player was KO'ed. Not any more, Steve players!

As well as Arcade mode, where you play through the game with a set number of characters to fight and unlock other modes, the Ghost Battles make a return, where you fight your way from lowly beginner to ground-crushing Dark Lord by beating fighters better than you and slowly creeping up the ranks. Every fight is logged, displaying your win/loss record and percentage before every fight. The customisation element of Tekken 5 is still here, where you use Fight Money earned in Ghost Battles to purchase cool or hilarious items and clothing that can be added to your fighter - spiked wristbands, bananas on belts, eye patches and even an afro are just a few examples! There's plenty of fun to be had, further increasing the longevity of a game that's already here for the long haul. Then of course there's the VS Battle mode for two player action and the Gallery, where you can spend your fight money on buying pictures or movies of the fighters.

With a huge 36 characters to choose from and 15+ levels to duel upon, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection features more than enough for fighting game enthusiasts. The character customisation options add some extra variety too, allowing you to spice up the look of your chosen character when you desire. The only real drawback is the lack of an online VS mode, which I'm certain all Tekken fans were crying out for - I know I was! Still, with Tekken 6 on the horizon, my fingers are crossed, and for the time being I'm going to just keep on getting my wins with Afro Bruce Irwin - all in High Definition, of course!

Reviewed by Earl McFarlane for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).